According to the Oregon Deparment of Education (ODE) our resident population has fluctuated between 600 and 700 students for the past 20 years. We show 673 enrolled in 1993. We show 705 in 1998 according to CSD’s own reporting.

So what about those population numbers?

“When I came to Corbett seven years ago there were 50 percent fewer students in the district and at least 25 percent more employees.” – Randy Trani from his 7 page paper from January 2011 about the Charter School. According to ODE’s enrollment data this is not a true statement. In 2004 we reported 639. In 2011 we reported 634 in district. Even adding in the Charter numbers in 2011 (336) this is not “50% fewer that we had 7 years prior.

“The Resident population over the last 8 years has gone from 525 to around 700 resident students…” Randy Trani speaking at the August 2012 pre-application meeting with Multnomah County. ( At 24:15 of the audio ) This resident number likely includes students that do not live in Corbett, but are allowed to be called “resident” due to a change in the laws under HB3681.

” Five years ago, when I was the principal, Corbett was host to around 170 inter-district transfer students. Some of those students had been “Corbett Kids” for many years. “ – Randy Trani in his explanation of the letter sent to the Charter in April 2013 about possible non-renewal of their rental agreement.

…Subtracting the “170 inter-district transfer students” from the number of students reported to ODE in 2008, means we did have a resident population of only 525. In 1998 though, our resident population was 705, as reported to ODE.

According to those statements then: Between 1998 ( Bob Dunton arrived in 1999 ) and 2008 ( around the time Randy Trani became the Superintendent in 2010 and Bob became the Director of the Corbett Charter School in 2009 ) we lost 180 resident students. In the meantime we gained 170 from out of the district?

If accurate, then this would seem to validate the long standing complaints from Corbett residents that our district was replacing our own kids with those from out of the area. Obviously, this has created a large trust issue with some of those living here, especially as we have watched the number of out of the area students increase substantially.

” Over the last four years our resident population has increased by nearly 25% percent to 663! “ – Randy Trani and his view that Corbett is growing substantially and that transfer outs are down from October 2012. [ Link to CSD blog. ]

If this is truly “local-resident” gains, and not “residents” that are allowed that designation through HB3681, then at the least this statement might have been more accurate if written: “We added back the 25% we lost between 1998 and 2008!”

…

So just how did we bring back the numbers we lost?

The National Ranking ‘PR Campaign’ didn’t hurt. Then labeling Corbett Schools as “An Education Destination”, by Randy’s own words, also probably helped frame the way Corbett Schools were perceived to many that have since moved in from out of the area. ( Keeping in mind some have moved in and some moved right back out. )

…

Our student/staff numbers have significantly increased over the last 4 years

We are now going through a conditional use application that will more than double the allowed students on our main campus and if you add in CAPS we will have a total allowed students and staff of over 1,700.

* Keep in mind also, if a student leaves ( that lives here in Corbett ) and goes to a private school or is home schooled, these numbers are not reported to ODE. So our “transfer out” rates are not accurate, as we all know someone being home schooled or going to Open Door or Phonics Factory.

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If We Build it They Will Come

The County Application to increase the district population in 2013 was controlled by Superintendent Randy Trani. This was done without the school board's involvement or community input.
CSD can now enroll 1,382 students and 80 staff (for the main campus only) and CAPS in Springdale is allowed 268 students and staff.

This now brings the District's allowed total to 1,730 students and staff. Over 1,000 more than local resident students today.